Reality stars spar on Twitter over race and the RNC

Former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken posted a provocative tweet about a lack of diversity at the Republican convention, prompting a feud with country music star and The Apprentice candidate John Rich.

Celebrities posting heavily opinionated tweets during current events is nothing new; neither is the ensuing backlash, be it from other celebrities or the public. A March 2011 tweet that joked about tsunami victims in Japan cost comedian Gilbert Gottfried his job as Aflac’s spokes-duck. Additionally, actor Orlando Jones infuriated followers in late 2011 when he expressed a desire to see liberal Americans kill Sarah Palin.